2022 Comte Armand Auxey Rouge Premier Cru

A similar bright fresh purple, with just a little more fruit weight on the palate. A little bit plusher in texture than the village Auxey, but still with notable acidity behind. A crunchy energy alongside the darker fruit. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted: October 2023. 89-91 points

The 2022 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with brambly black fruit, wild strawberry and a touch of white pepper. This is much more complex than the Village Cru. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly finer tannins than the Village Cru, still quite structured, which is why Paul Zanetti told me he would do a longer barrel aging to soften the texture. Promising, but be patient. 89-91 points